ballyhoo 1 of 2

noun

ˈba-lē-ˌhü How to pronounce ballyhoo (audio)
Definition of ballyhoonext
1
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity it turned out that the ballyhoo was the result of a movie being filmed on the street

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hype
information released to the media that is designed to gain public attention or support for a person, business, or cause the usual ballyhoo intended to fill the seats at megaplexes around the country

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ballyhoo

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to acclaim
to praise or publicize lavishly and often excessively that reviewer always ballyhoos any book by one of his pet authors

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to promote
to provide publicity for the TV networks usually spend the summer months ballyhooing their new fall shows

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ballyhoo
Noun
For all the ballyhoo about the total solar eclipse this past April, the event didn’t stir up much in the way of conspiracy thinking. — Eric Olson, Washington Post, 7 July 2024 Curiously, there seemed to be no VIP or movie star ballyhoo; instead, as The Times wrote, the inaugural passengers on the north-to-south trip were 150 L.A.-area schoolkids. — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2023 This is one bit of ballyhoo that came to pass; the Pittsburgh Pirates held spring training in Paso Robles, and then San Bernardino; the Chicago White Sox in Pasadena; and the Chicago Cubs on Catalina Island. — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2023 The news has brought a sizable amount of ballyhoo. — Natalie Shure, The New Republic, 19 Nov. 2021 See All Example Sentences for ballyhoo
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballyhoo
  1. commotion
  2. hype
  3. acclaim
  4. promote
  5. disturbance
  6. publicity
  7. advertise
  8. sell
Noun
  • The reveal of the dire wolves and accompanying news on red wolf advances lead to plenty of commotion and news coverage.
    — Mike Snider, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
  • In the backdrop, a commotion of voices from distraught aid workers and soldiers shouting commands in Hebrew can be heard.
    — Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of commotion
Noun
  • This seems to have surprised many who assessed his rhetoric as just more hype likely to fall prey to the same institutional constraints and poor execution that hampered Trump in his first term.
    — Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Zhao points out that the hype around generative AI often overshadows its limitations.
    — Hessie Jones, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of hype
Verb
  • Friedman’s production was critically acclaimed, due to its focus on the central characters and the standout performances from Groff, Radcliffe and Mendez.
    — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2025
  • In its second partnership, the brand is introducing a five-piece limited edition of its Escale model in collaboration with Kari Voutilainen, an independent watchmaker with a workshop in Saint-Sulpice, Switzerland, acclaimed for his decoration and finishing techniques.
    — Carol Besler, Forbes, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of acclaim
Verb
  • Musk responded to an X user who shared a video of Navarro promoting tariffs.
    — Zac Anderson, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
  • In a social media post Sunday, Kennedy promoted two such practitioners who have become popular in West Texas among vaccine-hesitant families: Ben Edwards and Richard Bartlett.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of promote
Noun
  • Prosecutors had alleged that sheriff's deputies responded to a call of a domestic disturbance on June 9, 2019, at Paschel's home.
    — Diane J. Cho, People.com, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Habitat disturbances, including tourism, fertilizer collection, and limestone mining, pose significant threats to its survival, which is why it is listed as ‘near threatened‘ on International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of disturbance
Noun
  • The legal travails have spread to others involved in the movie and its publicity as well.
    — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2025
  • For Meghan Markle, not all publicity was good publicity.
    — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Definition of publicity
Verb
  • Raw also advertised an appearance by GUNTHER, Bayley vs. Liv Morgan and AJ Styles vs. Karrion Kross.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • What To Know An extensive 15-month investigation began in December 2023 when a local resident reported that Wicked Wonderland, was advertising human bones for sale on its Facebook page.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of advertise
Verb
  • Elsewhere in the land, the Ministry of Magic section includes merchandise locations that sell wands and other franchise materials, namely the focal wand location Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique.
    — Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
    — Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA Today, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of sell

Browse Nearby Words

balls of wax
ballyhoo
ballyhooed
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Cite this Entry

“Ballyhoo.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballyhoo. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

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